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ALCO DH-643
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United States | 1964
3 produced
Works photo of No. 9019
Works photo of No. 9019
ALCO

The DH-643 was a type of diesel-hydraulic road switchers built by ALCO for Southern Pacific in 1964. Internally it was also called C-643DH or Century 643 DH. Three were built after the SP had received their first ML-4000 built by Krauss-Maffei in Germany. The DH-643 was also twin-engined and also used transmissions obtained from Voith in Germany. But instead of the Maybach V16 engines, it had two V12 of the ALCO 251 series, each rated at 2,150 hp. Like its German sister, it was not recognized superior to diesel-electrics in the USA as these became more and more powerful in these years. Other reasons might have been the more complicated maintenance and the unavailability of hydraulic transmissions from domestic manufacturers. All three were retired and scrapped in 1973.

General
Built1964
ManufacturerALCO
Wheel arr.C-C 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length75 ft 10 in
Service weight378,000 lbs
Adhesive weight378,000 lbs
Axle load63,050 lbs
Boiler
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-hydraulic
Top speed77 mph
Starting effort95,000 lbf
EngineALCO 251C
Engine type2x V12 diesel
Engine output4,300 hp (3,207 kW)
Calculated Values
diesel locomotive
freight
last changed: 09/2025
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